Illegal occupation PHC: 15 days to demolish encroachments

Warns of contempt proceedings if officials do not comply.

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has given a 15-day deadline to all district revenue officers (DROs) for submitting compliance reports about graveyard encroachments.

Earlier on July 5, the PHC had given an ultimatum to all district coordination officers (DCOs) and DROs to demolish encroachments in graveyards before August 23. The PHC has warned of contempt of court proceeding if officials concerned fail to comply.

On Tuesday, a two-member bench comprised of Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth and Justice Roohul Amin heard a writ petition filed by more than 80 residents of the provincial capital. The bench was also briefed by Swabi, Bannu, Mansehra and Abbottabad DROs. All four DROs said that 90% of court orders had been complied with and the report submitted.

The Peshawar DRO informed the bench that encroachments over 500 canals of the graveyard land had been demolished in urban areas. The DRO also said that the department would be launching an operation in rural areas as well.

However, he said that the operation was still underway and they need more time to file the compliance report. Upon his request, the court gave a 15-day extension to all DROs to file reports and adjourned the case till September 19.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2012.